Chapter 6- disappointments

She snuggled closely to the young man beside her feeling his warmth permeate through her body. They were alone just the two of them watching the sun rise on another day. His hand rubbed the back of her own, a warm caring gesture. Yet she felt herself feeling confused, she really liked Dan but to actually make the step of acknowledging those feelings in public may change things that she didn't want to change. One of those things was the friendship with the Bob Whites. She'd imagined herself as a bride to Jim and sister to her best friend Honey, it had been a shining beautiful dream that she was not sure she wanted to end.

Dan's hand moved up to play with one of her blonde curls. She glanced at him and he smiled back at her. Time stood still for a moment as Dan leaned closer. Almost unconsciously Trixie moved back eliciting a puzzled frown from Dan, "what's wrong Trix", he insisted. "I'm just not sure I want to move too fast", Trixie told him. "Fast ,Trix all I was doing was holding your hand", Dan protested as he looked into her eyes, "Don't worry Trix I don't want to rush things either", he reassured her." Trixie relaxed leaning against him, Dan raised his hand back to her head and played with her curls. They sat like that until they heard the sounds of the others stirring then they parted walking back to their individual dormitories.

Later at breakfast Trixie had some of the logs books in front of her and was reading through the mundane information, "gleeps who cares if Mr Mathews cut the lawn", she groaned. All the others shared her sentiments as they also had log books containing similar information.

Mr Wheeler finished his breakfast quickly and stood up, "I'm off to see Mr Dalton don't expect me back until late", he told them

He'd just left when an excited young boy came into the dining room and announced, "parents visiting". Kelly, Alena and Hope all looked up, they were the only ones currently not adopted. They waited rather nervously until Sister Agnes entered the dining room, "Hope, Alena, come with me", she called. Kelly's form deflated like a punctured balloon sagging over her bowl of cereal. Honey, Di and Trixie raced to comfort her. "See too old again", she remarked as Honey squeezed her tight.

Minutes later a rather resigned looking Alena entered, "they really want a young child", she told Kelly.

Now the older girl moved to comfort her young friend. 'it's okay they didn't like dancing anyway", Alena told Kelly as she tried hard not to cry.

"Then that only leaves Hope", Jim mused. Alena pulled back from Kelly's hug, "lets hope they take her, she's been through this a couple of times already this month", she remarked.

"She seems such a sweet child, I can't think why nobody's adopted her yet", Di admitted.

Kelly looked at them, "her mouth may have been moving when we were singing but she was making no sound, Hope can't talk."

The others looked startled, "is their something medically wrong with her", Brian asked gently. "Kelly shrugged, "we don't know as the Sisters don't discuss other orphans with us. All I know is her lack of speech puts people off adopting her", she concluded.

When Sister Agnes returned alone to the dining room about 20 minutes later everyone began to smile until the sister flopped into a chair, "they said no", she told them. "Hope's gone to her dorm to play with her bear". "Sometimes life really sucks", Kelly remarked angrily thumping the table hard". Sister Agnes sighed heavily, "at this moment I think I agree", she stated.

Matt found himself being escorted to a rather ugly looking square shaped building. "This is the building that will house those orphans of yours", Harold Dalton told him. Looking at the polluted river with its banks piled with rubbish Matt began to have a very bad feeling. That feeling only got worse as they moved inside. Yes the building was new with shiny paint and thick carpet but the windows let in absolutely no light and the place had a gloomy feeling. "Is this the best you can do", he protested to Harold. The other businessman looked peeved, "it's a new building Matt and new fixtures, all for less than half the price of fixing up that old wreck they currently inhabit". "I kind of like their existing home", Matt reflected as he thought of the beauty of the frozen garden and the stained glass window that although broken still danced rainbows onto the floor.

"Matt I'm going to tell it to you straight don't let sentiment get in the way of good business", Harold lectured, "removing that home will make way for a more modern building that will help many citizens in the city. What does a children's home offer to society, potential criminals", he suggested.

"It does not", Matt counted his voice angry. Harold Dalton put his brief case on top of a counter and clicked it open taking out papers he banged them on the table, "look at these figures Matt, about 10 percent of children from that home leave to spent their lives on the streets robbing others." Do you want it said in the business community that you , Mathew Wheeler support that sort of thing, because I'm telling you it will ruin your reputation". Harold wound down and stood waiting for Matt to make his decision.

"Have you actually ever met any of those orphans", Matt asked his colleague. "It'd be a waste of my time Mathew", Harold replied in a rather pompous tone. 'Maybe it shouldn't be, I went to the home and yes I saw it needs some work but I also saw something else heart and spirit. " He looked around the drab building, "I once thought that it didn't matter where you lived, but after visiting the home I believe I was wrong. "I'm going to stop the demolition", he concluded firmly.

Harold Dalton drew out another piece of paper and banged it on the desk, " I was prepared in case you did that Matt. I've got other backers who are far more important than you." Unless you want financial ruin you cannot stop the demolition", he concluded this statement a little smugly. Overwhelming anger assailed Matt and he had the over powering urge to smack Harold Dalton firmly in the face. But knowing all that would bring was a law suit he settled for saying, "Well I hope your conscience can live with the fact you're selling those orphans out. It's not all about being nice and giving them a new home it's about money. I know what that land the current home is on is worth", Matt growled. "Matt what I am doing has a name, it's called that's life, now I suggest you go and tell those people in the home to move before the bulldozers run them down", Harold replied levelly. As he left Matt reflected that Harold Dalton didn't need to worry about his conscience because he obviously didn't have one.

Trixie and the others worked through the logs books each one hoping to find the one snippet of information that would prove to be a breakthrough. Trixie had just closed another book when Sister Agnes can running into the room, 'Hope's gone", she announced. "I went to check on her in the dormitory but their was no sign of her. I've looked in every building and all the places she usually hides. Having that couple turn her away has proved to much, she's run away and it's freezing out there."

All of them looked out of the window where snow was falling. They all knew it would not take a young children long to freeze to death in these temperatures.